I have 2 theories. A.) They were picked on as kids and now are pissed off and are on a powertrip, or the more likely, B.) They got into the field for all the right reasons, and after being seasoned and seeing all the flaws in the system, and how much people take for granted the risks they take to keep everyone else safe, and how the population generally(breaking the law, speeding, etc.) thinks and treats them for doing their job. To Protect and Serve, which also would include the speeding driver, who could be endangering the rest of the public.

Because nobody remembers to take half of that batch of fresh-baked cookies down to the police station!

My ex is a retired Police Detective. He was always stressed in that job, heard and saw things none of us ever even imagined. Sometimes it can be very frightening, depressing, they work alot of hours, and many bring this home with them. Most live eat and drink being a cop. They get wrapped up, involved so yea they are not that happy. The divorce rate and suicide rate has always been on the top 10, as does alochol and drug abuse

They risk their lives every day dealing with the worst humanity has to offer, trying to help people who mostly do not respect or appreciate them & they get paid squat-all for doing it.

Because the uniform pants are very uncomfortable on their curly tails.

Probably for the same reasons a lot of non-uniformed appear so unhappy. If a cop looks angry or stern, that's also a job-face. It's not too effective to try to enforce the law with a big smile--people will try to walk all over you. It's also dangerous to arrest somebody that's sizing you up for a fight and you've got a jovial grin on your face and you're whistling "Oh What A Beautiful Morning!" :-)

I have a friend that was going to be a cop. He holds a Masters degree in Criminology. He did an internship with a department. He decided that he no longer wants to be a cop. He said alot of them are crooked. Some good ones, but even they are not willing to put their necks out if they see something illegal being done by another cop.

Having been in law enforcement, I would have to say that is because you must put up with people every day that take your job for granted. They have no idea how dangerous it is just to stop someone for a traffic violation. You never know who is in that particular vehicle. Is it a felon? Has he just murdered someone? Did he just rob the Choke N Spit Deli? And no one is ever guilty of what you stop them for. "Maam, you just ran that stop sign." "Oh, no I did not, I slowed down to look both ways." I have had friends that I had since childhood that would not even speak to me after I started on the Force. I dont know why, maybe they have a guilty concience. It is for the most part a thankless job. Once in a while someone will do something that is especially heroic and the media will give him kudos,, but most people in the public arena will just as soon spit on you as not. But the police have to protect them without discrimination. I had a mother in a grocery store one time having trouble with her three or four year old son,,,the mother said,"You better act right or I will have that officer arrest you and take you to jail." What kind of crap is that to tell your child. We want to be their friend and parents are starting them off at a young age to be afraid of us. Yes, I am sorry to say that there are bad people in law enforcement, just as there are bad people in the general public. But for the most part the police officers in your city or county or state, are looking out for you even if they do give you a ticket. They may seem to be hard and unsympathetic, but most are very compassionate people.

I think it is because they both are weathered. They aren't happy being out on patrol because everyday for them is routine and boring. Also, I think they are trained not to seem to upbeat and carefree because intimidation is a major factor that police officers use to their advantage.

From The Pirates of Penzance Sir William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan Sergeant: When a felon's not engaged in his employment, Policemen: His employment, Or maturing his felonious little plans, Little plans, His capacity for innocent enjoyment, 'Cent enjoyment, Is just as great as any honest man's, Honest man's. Our feelings we with difficulty smother, 'Culty smother, When constabulary duty's to be done, To be done, Ah, take one consideration with another, With another, A policeman's lot is not a happy one. (Chorus:) Ah, when constabulary duty's to be done, to be done, A policeman's lot is not a happy one - happy one. ------------------------------------------------------------ When the enterprising burglar's not a-burgling, Not a-burgling, When the cut-throat isn't occupied in crime, 'Pied in crime, He loves to hear the little brook a-gurgling, Brook a-gurgling, And listen to the merry village chime, Village chime. When the coster's finished jumping on his mother, On his mother, He loves to lie a-basking in the sun, In the sun. Ah, take one consideration with another, With another, A policeman's lot is not a happy one. (Chorus:) Ah, when constabulary duty's to be done, to be done, A policeman's lot is not a happy one - happy one.

They have to put on their 'game face' to get the job done. Also, I think the job is not that great. Sometimes you're dealing with people at their worst. Many people don't trust cops and cops stop trusting people.

They are fighting an uphill battle they cannot win. They have quotas put on them to write a certain amount of tickets, the public is uncooperative and ungrateful and that bullet proof vest must be darn uncomfortable.

It's a combination of the stress from the job, stress placed on the officers from the police department administartion and supervisors. stress placed on the officers from the general public who bad mouth and put down the police (until they need One) Police work also places a substantial amount of stress on the officers family due to the hours the officer works and the danger the officer faces on a daily basis. This causes alot of domestic arguements among officers and their sigificant other.